STEM OPT Research Technician Jobs
Research Technician roles sit squarely within STEM OPT eligibility, supporting up to 24 months of additional work authorization beyond your initial OPT period. Your employer must be enrolled in E-Verify before you start. A STEM degree in a qualifying field, life sciences, engineering, chemistry, or a related discipline, is required to extend.
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Researcher 2
Department:
Arts and Sciences | Sociology
The Researcher 2 collaborates with the Departments of Sociology and Psychology to coordinate and manage the day-to-day operations of two survey research projects. This role supports all phases of the research lifecycle, including study design, IRB documentation, implementation, fieldwork management, and data preparation.
Key Responsibilities
Project Coordination & Study Implementation
- Coordinate and manage daily activities for multiple survey research projects.
- Assist with preparation and submission of IRB documentation.
- Collaborate with study teams on research design, methodology, and implementation.
- Participate in the development of study communications and outreach strategies.
Survey Programming & Data Collection
- Convert, program, and debug complex electronic questionnaires using specialized survey software.
- Manage field operations, including oversight of survey administration processes.
- Create and maintain dialing campaigns within call center software; serve as a subject matter resource for staff.
Field Staff Training & Supervision
- Develop training materials and conduct training sessions for field and telephone interviewers.
- Supervise field and office-based research interviewers, ensuring performance standards are met.
- Conduct interviewer quality assurance activities to maintain data integrity.
Respondent Engagement
- Initiate and manage communications with survey respondents (e.g., emails, text messages) to encourage participation.
- Support implementation of engagement strategies to improve response rates.
Data Management & Reporting
- Assist with variable creation, data cleaning, and reporting using statistical software packages.
- Track interviewer hours and monitor fielding budgets to ensure project efficiency.
Qualifications
- Experience with survey research methods and data collection.
- Proficiency in statistical software (e.g., SPSS, Stata, R) and survey programming tools.
- Strong organizational, communication, and project management skills.
- Experience supervising staff and managing field operations preferred.
Minimum Education Required
Bachelor's Degree in Sociology, Psychology or related field with 3 years of relevant research experience required; Master's Degree in Sociology, Psychology or a related field and/or six years of survey research equivalent experience.
Additional Education Desired
Considerable experience (six or more years) in a social science discipline and in conducting research. Six or more years of experience with programmed survey conversion and testing. Expertise in SAS or equivalent programming language (preferably SPSS or STATA). Ability to produce metrics and create variables. Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
This is a part-time, limited term, 2 year position with a 55% FTE.
The range of offers for this position will be based on internal equity, the unit’s budget and the individual’s qualifications.
Additional Information:
Location:
Remote Location
Position Type:
Term (Fixed Term)
Scheduled Hours:
22
Shift:
Varying Shifts
Final candidates are subject to successful completion of a background check. A drug screen or physical may be required during the post offer process.
Thank you for your interest in positions at The Ohio State University and Wexner Medical Center. Once you have applied, the most updated information on the status of your application can be found by visiting the Candidate Home section of this site. Please view your submitted applications by logging in and reviewing your status. For answers to additional questions please review the frequently asked questions.
The university is an equal opportunity employer, including veterans and disability.
Job Title:
Researcher 2
Department:
Arts and Sciences | Sociology
The Researcher 2 collaborates with the Departments of Sociology and Psychology to coordinate and manage the day-to-day operations of two survey research projects. This role supports all phases of the research lifecycle, including study design, IRB documentation, implementation, fieldwork management, and data preparation.
Key Responsibilities
Project Coordination & Study Implementation
- Coordinate and manage daily activities for multiple survey research projects.
- Assist with preparation and submission of IRB documentation.
- Collaborate with study teams on research design, methodology, and implementation.
- Participate in the development of study communications and outreach strategies.
Survey Programming & Data Collection
- Convert, program, and debug complex electronic questionnaires using specialized survey software.
- Manage field operations, including oversight of survey administration processes.
- Create and maintain dialing campaigns within call center software; serve as a subject matter resource for staff.
Field Staff Training & Supervision
- Develop training materials and conduct training sessions for field and telephone interviewers.
- Supervise field and office-based research interviewers, ensuring performance standards are met.
- Conduct interviewer quality assurance activities to maintain data integrity.
Respondent Engagement
- Initiate and manage communications with survey respondents (e.g., emails, text messages) to encourage participation.
- Support implementation of engagement strategies to improve response rates.
Data Management & Reporting
- Assist with variable creation, data cleaning, and reporting using statistical software packages.
- Track interviewer hours and monitor fielding budgets to ensure project efficiency.
Qualifications
- Experience with survey research methods and data collection.
- Proficiency in statistical software (e.g., SPSS, Stata, R) and survey programming tools.
- Strong organizational, communication, and project management skills.
- Experience supervising staff and managing field operations preferred.
Minimum Education Required
Bachelor's Degree in Sociology, Psychology or related field with 3 years of relevant research experience required; Master's Degree in Sociology, Psychology or a related field and/or six years of survey research equivalent experience.
Additional Education Desired
Considerable experience (six or more years) in a social science discipline and in conducting research. Six or more years of experience with programmed survey conversion and testing. Expertise in SAS or equivalent programming language (preferably SPSS or STATA). Ability to produce metrics and create variables. Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
This is a part-time, limited term, 2 year position with a 55% FTE.
The range of offers for this position will be based on internal equity, the unit’s budget and the individual’s qualifications.
Additional Information:
Location:
Remote Location
Position Type:
Term (Fixed Term)
Scheduled Hours:
22
Shift:
Varying Shifts
Final candidates are subject to successful completion of a background check. A drug screen or physical may be required during the post offer process.
Thank you for your interest in positions at The Ohio State University and Wexner Medical Center. Once you have applied, the most updated information on the status of your application can be found by visiting the Candidate Home section of this site. Please view your submitted applications by logging in and reviewing your status. For answers to additional questions please review the frequently asked questions.
The university is an equal opportunity employer, including veterans and disability.
See all 698+ STEM OPT Research Technician Jobs
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding STEM OPT Authorization as a Research Technician
Verify your CIP code before applying
Your STEM OPT extension depends on your degree's Classification of Instructional Programs code matching a STEM-designated field. Check your DSO's records against the DHS STEM Designated Degree Program List before submitting Form I-983 to avoid a denial based on an ineligible degree.
Confirm E-Verify enrollment before accepting offers
Research institutions, universities, and private labs vary widely in E-Verify enrollment status. Ask the HR contact for their E-Verify Company ID or search the E-Verify employer search tool directly, your STEM OPT authorization is invalid if your employer isn't enrolled before your start date.
Target labs with active federal research funding
Federal contractors and grant recipients, NIH, NSF, and DOE-funded labs, are typically already enrolled in E-Verify as a condition of their funding. Research Technician postings tied to federal grants are a reliable filter for finding compliant employers without having to ask upfront.
Use Migrate Mate to filter Research Technician roles by sponsorship history
Search Research Technician listings on Migrate Mate, which surfaces employers based on their DOL Labor Condition Application filing history, so you can prioritize labs and research organizations that have already supported work-authorized employees in similar roles.
Build your I-983 training plan around lab-specific tasks
USCIS requires your I-983 to describe how your daily Research Technician duties apply your STEM degree's coursework and methodology. Generic descriptions get flagged, document specific techniques, instruments, and analytical methods your role uses and tie each one to a concrete learning objective.
Time your application around 90-day filing windows
Your DSO must recommend the STEM OPT extension no earlier than 90 days before your initial OPT end date. Missing this window forces a gap in authorization. Coordinate with your DSO and HR to align your offer letter date, training plan approval, and I-765 filing well before that deadline.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a Research Technician role qualify for the STEM OPT extension?
Yes, if your degree is in a STEM-designated field such as biology, chemistry, engineering, or computer science, and the Research Technician role directly applies that training. The connection must be documented in your I-983 training plan. Roles in basic lab support without a clear link to your degree field may face scrutiny from USCIS during review.
How do I confirm my Research Technician employer is enrolled in E-Verify?
Your employer must be enrolled in E-Verify before your STEM OPT start date, not just willing to enroll. You can verify enrollment through the E-Verify employer search tool using the organization's name or E-Verify Company ID. If they aren't enrolled, your extension approval won't authorize you to work there, regardless of your I-765 status.
What goes into the I-983 training plan for a Research Technician?
The I-983 must describe your specific learning objectives, the lab techniques and analytical methods you'll use, how those connect to your STEM degree curriculum, and how your employer will supervise and evaluate your progress. Generic job descriptions aren't sufficient, USCIS expects the plan to demonstrate a direct educational relationship between your degree and your daily research duties.
Does cap-gap protection apply while my STEM OPT extension is pending?
Cap-gap applies specifically to students who have an H-1B visa petition filed on their behalf for the upcoming fiscal year. If your employer files an H-1B petition before your OPT EAD expires, cap-gap extends your work authorization through September 30. STEM OPT itself doesn't provide cap-gap, that protection is tied to the pending H-1B, not the extension application.
Where can I find Research Technician jobs where the employer is already set up for STEM OPT?
Migrate Mate lists Research Technician roles filtered for employers with documented sponsorship history, so you're not spending time on organizations that have never supported work-authorized employees. This is especially useful in academic and biotech hiring, where E-Verify enrollment and prior OPT experience varies significantly from one lab or department to the next.